Ladies, remember that news when fish consumption seems to be okay for pregnant women since the benefits may outweigh the risks? A brand-new research tells you that may not be entirely true.
In a new study performed by the researchers of the gynecology and obstetrics department of the University of Michigan Medical and Public Health Schools with Dr. Emily Somers as the lead author, mercury may contribute the increased risk of autoimmune disorders among women if they ingest even what experts consider to be "safe levels."
Mercury is a natural metal found on earth. However, sometimes they combine with other compounds and metals and change form. For example, if they end up in bodies of water, they can become methylmercury, which may attach itself onto seafood especially fish.
Although the effects of methylmercury depend on many factors including the dose and length of exposure, pregnant women who ingest fish with this organic compound may give birth to babies with neurological defects. Men and women may also suffer from mercury poisoning characterized by tingling sensation particularly on the limbs and impaired vision. It can also lead to permanent damage to the kidneys.
However, even if you're not pregnant or planning to be one, mercury still poses a significant risk on your health, especially if you're still in child-bearing age. According to the research, it may make you more vulnerable to autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
They studied the presence of mercury among 1,300 plus women with ages from 16 to 49 years old. These women were also part of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted from 1999 to 2004.
The researchers had discovered the correlation between autoantibodies, which are created when the body forgets to differentiate harmful from good tissues and cells, and the level of mercury. In other words, if the mercury level is high, most definitely autoantibodies are also high.
Although the presence of autoantibodies doesn't immediately mean that women will develop an autoimmune disorder, these types of antibodies make it possible.
The full text of the study is published in Environmental Health Perspectives.
